Can-end-drying machine



CAN END DRYING MACHINE IVENTOR -NELsoN TROYER BY RALP ERO ATroRNEY `lune 17, 1930. N, TROYER E' AL CAN END DRYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-'Sheet Filed oct. 1, 1928 NELsorlNMREvE-TFQR FWPH M. MERQ ATTORNEY June 17, 1930. .y N, TRQYERET AL 1,765,183

CAN END DRYING MACHINE Filed 001:.l 1, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR NELSON TRoYER BY RALPI Rov 9V f ATI'ORN EY June 17, 1930. N. TROYER ET AL 1,765,183

CAN END DRYING MACHINE Filed 00tl, 1928 6 SheetS-Sheet 4 lNVENToRsy NELSON TRoYr-:R By RALPH M. MeRo 6% SPM ATTORNEY `une 17, l1930. N TRQYER Er AL 1,765,183

CAN END DRYING MACHINE Filed Oct. l, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I8 .Erg-'S ..65 INVENTORS NELSON TRoYER 6G BY RALP M. MER@ f ATTORNEY June 17, 1930. N- TRQYER Er AL CAN END DHYING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. l, 1928 INVENTOR NELso RoYaAR Patented June 17, 1930 "UNITED STATES NELSON TROYER AND RALPH M. MERO, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNORS, TO SEATTLE ASTORIA IRON WORKS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION' 0F wasHINGToN CAN-EN D-DRYIN G MACHINE .Application filed October 1, 1928. Serial No. 309,661.

This invention relates to drying machines, and particularly tojlnachines for drying the sealing, or lining, compound that is placed in the flanged rims of can ends for the purpose of insuring the integrity et' the joints when the endsare sealned -onto the can bodies. This 4 invention has particular reference to improvements in machines of that character disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,662,371

issued to Nelson Troyer and Merton L. Dodge on March 13, 1928, wherein the can ends to be dried are delivered successively int-o a heated,

cylindrical casing and are advanced up' wardly through the casing by supporting contact with the threads of paired lifter shafts which are arranged to rotate about their own axes as they revolve bodily about the central axis of the casing. In the machine of the patent aboveireferred to, the threaded lifter shafts are individually rotated as they revolve about the axis of the machine by gears which run in mesh with a stationary, central gear, common to all, and provision is made for permitting adjustment of the several shafts toward and from the central axis as a means of adjusting their spaced relation for the accommodation of can ends of various diameters. Connection between the lifter shafts and their driving gears is 3o maintained for all adjustments through telescoping universal joints which, as a mattei' of fact, have proven to be not the most desirable driving means either from an operating or from a mechanical standpoint, since such joints require considerable attention, are expensive and not as suitable as a direct gear drive.

It is the principal object of this invention vto improve upon the construction of the machine above referred to, particularly in the gearing whereby the lifter shaftsA are rotated and in the means whereby the lifter shafts of the several pairs may be adjusted from and toward each other for the accommodation of can ends of different diameters. More specifically, the present invention -resides in the provision of a machine of the above character wherein all the lifter shafts are arranged in circular alinement about the central axis of 50 the machine with corresponding shafts of each pair mounted by supporting means that is adjustable in a circumferential direction with respect to the supporting means for the other shaft so that any spacing of the paired shaftsmaybe made that may be required to accommodate can ends of any particular diameter without changing the distance of the shafts from the central axis, and consequently, without requiring any changing of gears. Also, to provide the two set-s of shafts with driving gears which mesh with concentrically arrangei'l, central gears which are adjustable with respect to each other in order to compensate for the advancement or retardation that results from moving one set of shafts relative to the other in making an adjust ment; it being desirable that the threads of the paired shafts maintain, for all positions of adjustment, the same relation in order that the threads will be in proper position that the can ends may be delivered between the shafts on entering the dryer and so that the threads of both screws of a pair will come into lifting contact therewith at the same time and the can ends will be held level as they are advanced upwardly.

Other objects of the invention reside in the means whereby the lifter shafts are supported and whereby they may be adjusted and held at their various positions of adjustment.

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction and combination of parts, which provides for easy assembly, or disassembly for ready replacement of attachment parts, and whereby an efficient and serviceable machine for this particular work is provided.

In accomplishing these objects, we have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a can end drying machine embodied by the present invention; the machine being shown as combined with a machine whereby the lining, or sealing, compound is delivered to the can ends. e

Figure 2 is a central, vertical cross section through the drying machine.

adjustable central Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the machine at different levels, one-half bein taken above the dryer table and the other ha f below the table.

Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement of the gear train whereby the several lifter shafts are rotated.

Figure 5 is an upper end, or plan, view of the machine. A

Figure 6 is a plan view, showing the relatively adjustable supporting brackets for the upper ends of the paired lifter shafts.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail illustrating the arrangement of a pair of lifter shafts and the manner in which the can ends are dis sed and supported between them.

igure 8 is an enlarged detail, illustrating the manner and means for mounting the guide rods between which a stack of can ends is advanced upwardly by the threaded shafts.

Figure 9 is a side view of the relatively ears of the gear train through which the s afts are rotated.

Figure 10 is a plan view showing the revolvable table and bracket whereby the screws are supported.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the reciprocating feed mechanism whereby the can ends are delivered into the dryer.

The present machine is adapted for can ends that are flanged in such manner as to provide peripheral grooves within which the liquid sealing compound is applied. In the present instance, the drying machine has been shown in combination with a lining machine which operates to apply the sealing compoundto the can ends and then to deliver them directly into the dryer; the operating mechanisms ofthe two machines being properly synchronized through a drive that is common to both. In the operation of the d ry-` ing machine, all the lift-er shafts rotate at the same rate and in the same direction as they are revolved bodily about the central axis of the machine and as each pair of shafts passes thevreceiving point, a can end is delivered from the linmg machine between them to be taken up bythe threads of the shafts and advanced upwardly through the drum. The shafts rotate once on their axes for each revolution about the axis of the machine, and thus the can ends are delivered into successive spaces between the threads of the paired shafts. When the can ends finally reach the upper ends of the rotating shafts they are lifted through openings in the top plate of the dryer casing and are then pushed into a chute, which delivers them from the machine.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- In Figure l, we have illustrated the present drying machine in connection with an end lining machine which is designated, in its entirety, by reference character A- while the drying machine is designated, in its enpad so that they are caused to be axially rotated by the pad while the lining or sealing compound is applied thereto from a nozzle 4. After receiving the sealing compound, the can ends are advanced by the feed devices, as indicated at 8 in Figs. 3 and 11, into the drying machine through a passage 9 at the lower end of the casing.

The resent drying machine comprises a vertica y disposed, cylindrical casing, or drum, 10, that is mounted on the horizontal base, or -bed plate, 11 of the machine; this bed plate being supported at a suitable height by legs or frames 12. The casing 1() preferably is made in sections which are hingedly or detachably fixed to supporting posts 13 which are mounted at their lower ends in the bed plate and at their upper ends in a heavy guide ring 14. The ring 14 has a smoothly finished inner surface and serves, as will presently be described, as a guide and support for the up er end of the revolving unit contained wit 1in the casing.

The several can end lifting units are arranged within the casing 10 circularly about a central, vertical shaft 18 which is revolubly supported from its lower end within a bearing 19 formed in a frame or casting 20 bolted to the under side of the bed plate. A suitable anti-friction bearing, as at 21, sustains the weight of the shaft and parts carried thereby; this being disposed against a downwardly lfacing shoulder on the shaft and against the upper end of the bearing 19. At its upper end, the shaft 18 has a circular top plate 22 keyed thereto for closing the upper end of t-he dryer casing and this has a dependingr peripheral ange revoluble within the ring 14 which serves as a support and guide whereby the revolving unit is steadied in operation. Openings 23 are provided in the plate 22, in alinement with the lifter units, through which the can ends are discharged from the latter and from the dryer casing.

The revolving unit, which in this instance consists of four pairs of threaded lifter shafts together with their supports and rods associated with the shafts for guiding the stacks of can ends upwardly between the shafts, is rotated by the shaft 18, which in turn is rotated by a gear 24 keyed on the lower end of the shaft in mesh with a smaller gear 25 on a driven shaft 26. l

The shaft 26 is parallel with shaft 18 and is revolubly supported above gear 25, in a bearing 27 formed in the plate or casting 20 and, below the gear, in a bearing 28. It is driven by a bevel gear 15 fixed thereto in mesh with a driving pinion 16 on a horizontal drive shaft 17.

As a matter of explanation', it will be here stated that the drive shaft 17 rotates once for each reciprocal action of the feed devices 8 whereby the can ends are successively' delivered into the machine. The ratio of the gears l5 and 16 is such that shaft 26 rotates once for each two revolutions of shaft 17, and gears 24 and 25 are of such ratio that shaft 18 rotates once for each two revolutions of shaft 26. This rovides that the dryer unit will make oneourth of a revolution for each delivery action of the feed mechanism and can ends will be delivered successively to the four lifter units as they successively pass the receiving station.

Each of the can end lifter units consists of a pair of parallel, like hand threaded shafts 3()-30 arranged at equal distances from the central shaft 18. Corresponding shafts 30 of the several units are revolubly supported at their lower ends in bearings 31 formed in a supporting bracket 32 keyed to shaft- 18 just above bearing 21, and at their upper ends, are

rotatably supported from the ends of the four radially directed arms 33a of a bracket 33 keyed to the upper end of the shaft 18 just below the top plate 22. The shafts 30 of the several units likewise are revolubly supported at their lower ends in bearings'34 formed in a circular table 35 that is concentric of the shaft 18 and disposed flush with the top of the bed plate within an opening provided therefor and at their upper ends are rotatably supported from the ends of the four radially directed arms 36a of a bracket 36 that is fixed to the upper end of a sleeve 37 that coaxially encloses the shaft 18 and which, at its lower end, has a fixed connection with the table 35. The table 35, sleeve 37 and bracket 36 are bodily adjustable about the shaft 18 on the bracket 32 so that all theyshafts 30 supported thereby may be moved in a circumferential direction about shaft 18 from or toward the complemental shafts 30 so as to space the paired shafts for lifting can ends of different diameters. Any adjustment made may be retained by locking the table 35 to the bracket 32 by means of a bolt 39 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extends downwardly through the table and through an arcuate slot 40 in the bracket and has a nut 41 on its lower end adapted to be tightened so as to clamp the parts tightly together against relative movement. To per mit this relative adjustment of the two Sets of shafts, the table 35 is necessarily provided with arcuate slots 42 through which the shafts supported by the bracket 32 extend. These slots are of considerable length and the open portions thereof are normally covered by plates 43 fitted thereover and set down within a circular groove 44 in the top of the table so as to be flush therewith. These plates are removable and are replaceable by others for various adjustments. Screws 45 are'used to secure the plates to the table. (See Fig. 10). Associated with each pair of lifter shafts BOT-30', is an inner guide rod 47 and an outer guide rod 48; these being arranged parallel with each other and with the shafts so as to support the can ends in their upward travel between the threaded shafts. At their upper ends these rods are contained within sockets 49 provided therefor inthe underside of the plate 22, and at their lower ends are seated over studs 50 fixed at the ends of supporting brackets 51 and 52 which, in turn, are fixed to the table 35 and, respectively, support the outer and inner rods.

When a change of adjustment of the lifter shafts is made, there is also required a corresponding adjustment of the guide rods. This requires a replacement of the top plate 22 by one having openings 23 of the desired size and wherein the sockets 49 are so located as to properly position the upper ends of the guide rods with respect to the lifter shafts and opening 23. Adjustment of the lower ends of the guide rods is provided for through adjustment of the several supporting brackets 51 and by replacement of the brackets 52.

As best shown in Figure 3, the brackets 51 have ends pivotally fixed to the table 35 by bolts 54 and have arcuate slots 55 formed therein through which locking bolts 56 are extended into the table. These latter bolts may be loosened to permit swinging adjustment of the brackets whereby the guide rods 51 may be moved inwardly or outwardly, and may be tightened to retain any adjustment. To adjust the lower ends of the outer guide rods, the brackets 52 which are attached to the table top by bolts 58--58, are replaced by brackets `of a suitable length for the desired adjustment; these brackets necessarily are spaced somewhat above the table in order that the can ends may be delivered to the shafts beneath them. e

Fixed to the bed plate concentric of the shaft 18 and casing, is a segmental guide ring 60, see Fig. 3, having spaced apart, outwardly directed ends 61--61 at one side and forming a guideway through which the can ends are delivered by the feed mechanism into the dryer casing. The can ends are delivered by the feed devices 8 into the casing between paired lifter shafts but not completely to their inner limit of travel, but sufficiently so that they will be engaged by downwardly extending shoulders 62 on the overhanging brackets 52 and will be advanced thereby, incident to forward rotation of the bracket with the unit, against an inwardly inclined, inner edge 60a of the guide ring at that side of the entrance and will be pushed inwardly thereby to proper position between the threaded shafts. The ring 6() serves to retain the can ends against outward displacement until they have been raised sufficiently to beheld by the outer 32 travel in mesh with a ring gear 67 of the same diameter as gear 66 and which is fixed adjustably on top of the latter so that it may be adjusted in a circumferential direction relative thereto: the connection of the two gears being made by a plurality .of bolts 68 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extend through arcuate slots 69 in the lower gear and are threaded into the mounting flange of the ring gear. Ti ghtening of the bolts clamps the gears together to retain the adjustment. The two gears 66 and 67 are rotatably driven by means of a gear 70 keyed to the upper end of shaft 26 in mesh with gear 66.

In the Troyer-Dodge patent previously referred to the driving gears at the lower ends of the several lifter shafts are all of the same size and operate in mesh with a cent-ral fixed gear of a like diameter. This provides that each revolution of the unit about the central gear causes each lifter shaft to rotate once about its own axis. Should that system of gears be applied to the present machine, the adjustment of the aired lifter shafts toward each other would be limited by interference of one t of shafts with the driving gears of the other set. Therefore, in. order to overcome this objection and to provide for adjusting the paired shafts closely together for operation on can ends of minimum size, the driving gears have been made relatively small as compared with the size of the central gears, and for this reason it is required that the central gears be rotatably advanced with the revolving unit at a certain rate in order that the lifter shafts will rotate but once for each revolution of the unit, and in the present instance, this is effected by the gear wheel which has driving engagement with gear 66 and which is of such diameter, as compared to the diameter of gears 66 and 67 that with each revolution of the dryer unit about the central axis, the lifter shaft driving gears 65 will advance exactly once on the gears 66 and 67. In the present machine, the shaft 26 rotates twice for each rotation of the dryerv unit. Gear 70, which is keyed to shaft 26, rotates twice for each rotation of the unit and has a 1 to 3 ratio to gear 66; therefore, it causes gears 66 to be rotatably advanced two-thirds of a revolution for each revolution of the unit. The gears 65 are of one-third the diameter of gears 66 and 7' 6, therefore,

for each revolution of the unit about its axis,

the gears 65 advance but one revolution; it.

being apparent that with the present gear ratio, if gear 66 stood still, the lifter shafts would be caused to rotate three times for each revolution of the unit but since thelgears 66 and 67 are advanced two-thirds of a revolution for each revolution of the unit, the gears 65 of the lifter shafts will only advance one revolution thereon. Thus, for each rotation of the unit, the can ends delivered between thc lifter shafts are lifted upwardly a distance equal to the pitch of thethreads.

Continued feeding of can ends into the revolving unit builds up the stacks of can ends between the lifter screws and, as -the 'can ends of the several stacks reach the top of the casing, they are finally advanced through the openings 23 in the top plate 22 and are brought into enga ement with an ejector pin 91 that is held y a bracket 92 supported from the ring 14, as shown in Figure 5. The pin causes the can ends to be pushed into a chute 93 within which they are delivered from the machine.

For the purpose of heating the drum interiorly for t-he drying process, We have provided an air heating device 95' having delivery flue 96 leading therefrom and, connecting with the upper end of the dryer casing. An outlet 98 is provided at the lower end of the casing and to this may be attached a pipe 99 to which a suction fan of a suitable character may be attached for withdrawing the air from the dryer so as to create a downward circulation of the heated air about and between the several stacksof can ends as they are advanced upwardly while rotating within the casing.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, the opera-tion, briefly, is as follows:

The entire dryer unit is revolved Within the casing 10 through the gear train connected to the shaft 18 through the gear 24 keyed on the lower end of the shaft; the several lifter shaft units being supported by the bracket 32 and table 35. As the dryer unit revolves, the can ends are -delivered by the feed mechanism 8 into the casing between the paired shafts of the several lifter units so that the ends are taken up between the threads of the paired shaft and are advanced upwardly thereby as the unit revolves. As the stacks are built up by continued feeding of the ends into the casing, the sealing compound, that previously had been applied thereto, is dried by the action of the heated air so that, when the ends are finally delivered from the upper end of the casing, they are in condition for use. If adjustment is desired for accommodating can ends of a different diameter, the lifter shafts are adjusted from or toward each other by adjustm'ent of the table 35 upon the supporting bracket 32 and by corresponding adjustment of the guide rods 47 and 48, as previously described.

In the present machine the ratio of gears permits adjustment of the lifter shafts closelytogether and without necessitating replacement. of gears for maintaining propell timing of the lifter shafts. Also, by providing for adjustment of the gear (S7 on gear 66, the desired l'elation of the threads of paired lifter shafts may be maintained for various spaeings of the shafts; that is. one set of lifter shafts may be rotated independent of the other to compensate for any variation in the relative position of the threads that would result from adjustment of one set of shafts with respect to the other while their driving gears are in mesh with the driving gears 66 and 67.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a can end drying machine, a plurality of can end lifter units each embracing a pair of rota-tive, threaded lifter shafts and an adjustable support common to one shaft of each of the several units whereby these shafts may be moved together from and toward their complemental shafts for the accommodation of can ends of various diameters.

2. In a can end drying machine of the character described` a plurality of can end lifter units disposed cencentrically about a common axis, each unit embracing a pair of rotative, threaded lifter shafts, means for rotating the shafts on their axes and for revolving the several units about the common axis, supportin,f r means that is common to corresponding shafts of each of the several units, another supporting means that is common to the other shafts of the several units and which is adjustable with respect to the iii-st supporting means for the purpose of adjusting the spacing between paired shafts for receiving can ends of different diameters.

3. In a can end drying machine of the character described, a central driving shaft, a plurality of can end lifter units disposed concer'itrically about said shaft, each embracing a pair of parallel, rotative, threaded lifter shafts, means fixed to the central shaft for rotatably supporting one lifter shaft of each of the several units, other means rotatably adjustable on the central shaft for rotatably supporting the other shafts of the several units and whereby the latter shafts may be adjusted from and toward their complemental shafts for the accommodation of can ends of different diameters.

4. In a can end drying machine, a central, revolubly driven shaft, a plurality of can end lifter units disposed concentrically about the central shaft each embracing a pair of parallel, threaded lifter shafts, supports fixed to the central shaft and revolubly mounting therein the upper and lower ends of corresponding lifter shafts of each unit, a sleeve on the shaft, supports fixed to the upper and lower ends of the sleeve and revolubly mounting therein the upper and lower ends of the other shafts of the several units; said latter supports and sleeve being rotatably adjustable bodily withrespect to the driven shaft and supports fixed thereto as a means of adjusting the spacing of the paired shafts, and means for securing corre spending supports of the two sets together to retain any adjustment made between the lifter shafts.

5. In a can end drying machine, a central, revolubly driven shaft, a plurality of can end lifter units disposed concentrically about the central shaft embracing a pair of parallel,

threaded lifter shafts, supports fixed to the central' shaft and revolubly mounting there- I in the upper and lower ends of corresponding lifter shafts of each unit, a sleeve on the shaft, supports fixed to the upper and lower ends of the sleeve and revolubly mounting therein the upper and lower ends of the other shafts of the several units; said latter supports and sleeve being rotatably adjustable bodily with respect to the driven shaft and supports fixed thereto as a means of adjusting the spacing of the paired shafts, one of the said lower supports having an arcuate slot therein and a bolt extended through the adjacent support and through the slot and a nut on the bolt adapted to be tightened as a means of locking the supports together to retain any adjust-ment made between lifter shafts.

6. In a. can end drying machine of the character described, a central, revoluble shaft, a plurality of can end lifter units disposed concentricall y about the central shaft, each unit embracing a pair of parallel, rotative, threaded lifter shafts, relatively adjustable supports for corresponding shafts of the several units rotatable with the central shaft, a pair of concentrically arranged gears coaxial of the central shaft, driving gears on corresponding lifter shafts of the several units meshing, respectively, with the centrally arranged gears, means for rotating the central shaft to revolve the several units and to cause the driving gears of the lifter shafts to rotatably advance on the central gears to rotate the lifter shafts as the units revolve, and means for rotatably adjusting the central gears with Irespect to each other as a means of rotatably adjusting the relation of the paired lifter shafts.

7. In a can end drying machine, ay plurality of can end lifter units, each embracing a pair of rotative, threaded lifter shafts disposed concentrically about a common axis, means for rotating the shafts on their axes and for revolving the several units about the common axis, relatively adjustable supporting means for the paired shafts whereby they may be adjusted from and toward each other to accommodate can ends of various diameters, guide rods parallel with the liftershafts for guiding the can ends upwardly between the latter and adjustable supporting means for the guide rods whereby they may be moved to accommodate can ends of various diameters in accordance with adjustment of the lifter shafts.

8. In a can end drying machine of the character described, a central, revolubly driven shaft, a plurality .of can end lifter units disposed concentrically about the central shaft, sup orting means for the units fixed to the sha t, each unit embracing a pair of rotative, threaded lifter shafts adjustable from and toward -each other for the accommodation of can ends of various diameters,a casing encircling the units, a top late for the casing fixed tothe central shaflt) to revolve with the units and having openings therethrou h for the passage ofthe can ends delivere from the lifter shafts and having downwardly opening sockets therein, can end guide rods associated with each pair ofv screws removably applied at their upper ends to the sockets in the top plate and having supporting brackets at their lower ends adjustably attached to the unit supporting means 'whereby they may be adjusted in accordance with adjustment of the lifter shafts for the accommodation of can ends of various diameters.

9. In a can enddrying machine of the character described, a central shaft, a plurality of threaded lifter shafts arranged concentrically about and rotatable with the central shaft, a central gear revoluble about the central shaft, relatively small driving gears on the lifter shafts meshing with the central gear,.means for rotating the central shaft and means for rotating the central gear to maintain a certain ratio of rotation between the central shaft and lifter shafts. l

10. In a can end drying machine of the character described, a central, revolubly driven shaft, a plurality of can end lifter units disposed concentrically about the cen. tral shaft, each embracing a pair of parallel, rotative, lifter shafts with supporting means therefor fixed to and revoluble with the central shaft, a air of concentrically arranged, relatively adjustable gears coaxial of the central shaft and revoluble about the latter, relatively small driving gears on the ends of cora responding lifter shafts of the several units meshing, respectively, with the two centrally arranged gears, means for rotating the cen-4 tral shaft to revolve the several units and'n means for rotating the central gears in the direction of rotation of the central shaft at such rate as to cause the driving gears of moana l 4 Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 25th' day of September, 1928.

NELSON TROYER. RALPH M. MERO.

the lifter shafts to advance but one revolution for each revolution of the central shaft.

11. In a can end drying machine, a plu- 

